"Have the prisoners any questions they wish to ask the witness?" and the alcalde turned to Thure and Bud.
For a moment the two boys consulted together. Then Thure said quietly: "No, there is nothing that either of us would care to ask that man."
"The prisoner is dismissed for the present," and the alcalde motioned Bill Ugger to step back from in front of the barrel.
CHAPTER X
THE MISSING BUTTON
"You may step forward and be sworn," and the alcalde turned his shrewd eyes on the pockmarked face of the small man.
The man stepped quickly forward; but, just before he reached the barrel, a sudden gleam shot into his eyes, which at that moment happened to be bent on the ground and looking at the spot where Thure and Ugger had had their brief but vigorous struggle. The next instant his foot apparently caught in a root that protruded above the ground; and he stumbled and fell violently downward, both outstretched hands clutching at the ground. As he jumped hastily to his feet, his face very red and his mouth flowing with apologies to the alcalde for his clumsiness, he glanced downward swiftly into one of his hands, and then, with another quick gleam of cunning triumph in his eyes, he quickly slipped the hand into one of his pockets, and, taking his place in front of the barrel, faced the alcalde.
"What is your name and present business?" the alcalde asked, when he had sworn the witness, in the same manner Ugger had been sworn, to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
"Spikenard Quinley," the man answered, shifting his eyes quickly from the face of the alcalde to the two big revolvers on top of the barrel; "but most of my friends jest call me Spike, for short. I'm bound for th' diggin's, 'long with my pard, Bill Ugger, him who jest testified."